Drawbar yoke



G. c. MURRAY.

DRAWBAR YOKE. APPLICATION FILED MARIB, 1918.

een? I www@ E@ WQ/ t comprising a removablegib, withoutin-aking l Laia-reo.'

v GEORGE c. ii'rURRiiY, or cnrcrieogrnrirnors. f l

DRAWBAR' .Yorin Application inea Marchjfis, 1191s.' seriai naaf/espec.

Be it known that 1,' (da, -tonni-vir, a citizen of the United States, residingrat Chicago, inthe county of Cook and State of Illinois have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drawbar "Yokes, of which the following-is a specification. .This 'invention relates to a yoke for connecting the draft gear ofrailwayfcars with holes lin the walls of thel yokeoreniploying auxiliary fastening means vfor thereino'vable gib. Another important ob]ect isto provide a construction iiiwliich the coupler butt is supported directly 4upon the lower wall f of 'the yoke, and is retained inthe yoke by a fixed flange and a removable gib` engaging the shouldersof the butt. A further object is to 'provide a yoke having ahoo'de'd forward end and inwardly directed flanges carried by the vupper and lower armsyin coin.-

bination with a draw-bar having one shoulder adapted to engage directly one of said fianges and another shoulder adapted to enf gage'thegib insertable intotli'e hooded portion from the forward end'ofthe yoke and retained inv position -by 4said other flange'. Still another object is jtoprovide, inv combination with the'y usual draw-bar, having a n shank and a shouldered butt, a yoke having Aa flange to engage one shoulder'of tliej`dr-awbar butt and a removable gib 'adapted to be inserted into the yoke from the forward end thereof 'between the shank of the coupler i butt and a retaining` lugcarried-by the lower wall ofthe yoke, the spacebetween the lug andshank being vsuch that thegib is insert?A ableonly when .the coupler butt has-been l displaced rearwardly in tlieyoke, in orden to bring into-positionopposite the` .lug a part of the shankl having a reduced vertical dimension, whereby the gib is automatically held in position bythe draw-bar when the latter is in its normal forward position.

Other objects relate Ato various featuresof construction and arrangement whichv will` a is inffitsnornialforwardpositiomas illustrated lin :Fig f1, 'the "lower surface. thereof 'is `adaptedto conta'ctvwithg-the lowerwall v e appear more clearly hereinafter.

The nature of the invention willbe understood from the 'following specification specification of `Leiters raient. A. Pafentd Jung ,65 .195522,

taken in connection with the' accompanying `drawings `in which two` embodiments lare illustrated. n y

ln the drawings-e-` bair! and yoke with the:forwarchparto'ffthe t yoke shownin sectionon v4the line y-1- f-"1o`f,

`F ig. 2 is aftoptplanview ofthe draw-bar an d yokev with fzontalsectioni n f Y Fig. 3 is. a'perspective viewof theremovySFig. All is La side view similar `L-torliigif 1,' illustrating the method of inserting the coiiv pler butt intotheyoke and thefinethod of v parts thereof shown-in'ho'ri- .t l

inserting the yremovable Ygib"intothe yokejy i after .the coupler Vbutt has been. displaced rearwardly; v l

Figui r5, is la lifront elevation of ythelyokel and gib being inserted into "the forward end-of the'yoke;`

5 showing: the'position of thefpa-rtsfafterthe' "draw-bar; with tliesfla'tterdisplacedy rear?l j: 1' l wardlyin the-Nyokeyshowingptheremovable y `lF'ifgt'Uisa vfront elevation'ssimilar to "Fig. i

removable gib block: hasjassume'd. its` normal C position', as shown in;Fi`g lg'iandi ,y Fig., 7 shows as-idexelevation of-,the :fori4 ward end of a modifiedform:of'yoke" -fln the accompanying drawings thel yoke is shown as comprisiiijg upper an d' lower' arms orf straps y10 and ;11,frespecti?vely, which are connected attheir rear ends by the. rear wall 12. y The-arms-.flOl-and; 11farey increased *inv width adj acent .theiri forwardfends, as illiise l trate-dl in Fig.lj2,-and the forwardportion's` thereof are connectedjby integrally formed `side walls orwebs 13,` havingiltlie formillus-j trated in" Figs. .1-.an`d2-` `,These.sid'e Lwalls;v

withl the upper and `lower walls of thegyoke, f form alioodedenclosure atthejfor'wardend i butt' 141?y of the coupler. butt "'14:` having* the of vconstruction'.

The `forward lendof )the upperarmwl() i f is provided with a depending 'flangeforlug 15 yadaptecltb coa'ctwith the uppershouldery 1.6Jofthe couplerbuttfand the iwalliiof ther if yoke kis-reinforced above tliisflange''byr'a i i transverse' rib`17. @When the/coupler butt" iio .i f t 60 Figure lis aside elevationof; thefdraw-` f Y' 11` ofthe .yoke overl a considerable area, as

shown at 19, and forwardly of these con-j Y lug `or flange 20, and at each end of the lug 20 other integral lugs or sh'oulders 21 extend upwardly adjacent the side walls 13 of the yoke. The iange 2O and the lugs 21 serve as retaining means for a removable gib or block 22, which is insertable into the hooded end of the yoke through the forward opening thereof, andl is adapted to coact withthe lowershoulder 18 of the coupler butt. The block 22 has the form illustrated particularly in Fig. 3 and` is provided with end projection 22a adapted to lierearwardly of and in contact with the end lugs 21; the block 22 also has a depending portion' 22,b adapted to lie rearwardly of and in contact with the transversely extendingv liange 20. The lower corners of the gib are cut away, lassliown at 22C, for a purpose to be hereinafter described, and the forward side of the block is hollowed out, as shown at 22d and` 22e, onropposite sides ofthe forwardly .projecting rib 22f, which serves to., strengthen the gib and also to provide a handle byv j which the saine may be inserted into the yoke.l The lower inclinedV wall 11a of the yoke is provided on its lateral edges with strengtheningribs 23 having upturned lugs 23a at the forward ends thereof adjacent the gib block 22.v Guideways are thus formed between the v'ribs 23 and the lugs 21 toreceivethe gibl 22 after the samey has been inserted linto the yoke. y

- ln order to insert the 4draw-bar butt into the yoke, it is necessary to tilt it .downwardly, as illustrated by dottedlines in Fig.

l, andthe parts of the yoke are so proportioned. thatA wlien the draw-bar is in this.

tilted position the .butt thereof will pass between theupper flange 15 of the yoke and the lower flange 20 carried by the lower wall,

Vthe width of the butt being slightly less than the horizontal distance between the up'l wardly vextending side lugs 21 which are located at the ends of the flange 20. The coupler butt may then be moved rearwardly until i the yoke, the portionk ll kof the.l coupler shank, adjacent the coupler butt, which has the enlarged vertical dimension, vis located rearwardly of the side lugs 21, soth'at sufficient spaceis then provided 'between these 'side lugs and the shank 14" to permit the end portions 222L of the gib to pass between the lugs 21 and the shank, and to permit the body of the block to pass over the lower liange 20. The gib is then passed over the end lug, as illustrated'in Fig. 4t, and allowed n to `drop into position behind the lugs 21 and the flange 20, where it is automatically retained in position by virtue of its own weight. However, when the coupler butt is returned to its normal forward position, as illustrated'in Fig. 1, the enlarged part 111 of the shank reduces'the spacesbetween the shank and the lugs 21, so that it is impossible to remove the block when the .coupler butt is within its normal range of movenient rwithin the yoke. When the coupler butt is moved rearwardly in'compressing the draft .gearin normal operation, the gib ris prevented from tipping rearwardly by the strengthening ribs 23.

The improved yoke preferably formed of caststee'l, and it has a great advantage. over `yokes heretofore herein described is known in that the'integralhooded forward end of tlieyoke is not slotted, cutorlother wiseweakened in order tol secure the coupler butt within the yoke. ln this invention the removable.gib,bywliich the coupler butt is retained, is located in a position wholly forward of the coupler butt and whollyfwithin the hooded end of theyoke, so thatnofapertures are'made inthe side walls, and the lower wall of the'hocd is not weakened by festening devices for the gib. Byreason` of the gib is automatically held within tliel hooded end when the ceupler butt is in its forward position, or is within' its normal range of movement during the compressionl of the draft gearin actual operation, `it being understood that rthe coupler. buttV-is-pfree' to move rearwardly iii the yoke on the lower y arm by which it is supported. The stresses transmitted to the yoke from the draw-bar are distributed, in this construction, throughout the hooded end of the yoke and not' concentrated on the side walls, or lany particu-y lar partl of the yoke construction', Various other advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the artvwithout detailed descriptionlierein.

-In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a inodiliedconstruction of theyoke, in which a transfy verse vkey is combined`v with 'the othervfeatures of construction embodied in the form of yoke previously described. Thismodified yoke, designated generally by the numeral 30, is in allfrespects similar to the provided vwith longitudinally holes 32 located in alinement with another key-holeextending through the draw-bar 33 on the longitudinal axis thereof. A key 34 iin` is adapted to be inserted through these alining key-holes, and through the longitudinal sills of the car located on4 opposite sides of the yoke. In this construction the strain is transmittedV from the draw-bar lto the yoke partially through the key and vpartially through the flange and block which engage the uppery and lower shoulders of theI drawbar butt. l y i Although Ihave shown and described certain embodiments of the inventionifor purposes of illustration, it willbe understood that it may be constructed in widely different forms without departingyfromfthe scope of the appended claims.

Vhat l claim is:

l. The combination in a draw-bar yoke,

ofa hooded forward end adapted to receive a shouldered draw-bar butt, means carried by said yoke for engaging one shoulder of said butt, and a removable gib insertable vfrom lthe forward end of said yokefor engaging the other shoulder of said butt,fthe lower wall of said yoke being adapted to engage and directly support said" butt when the latter is in its .normalforwardposition. 2. The combination in a draw-bar yoke,

yoffa hooded portion at the forward end adapted toy receivea shouldered draw-bar butt, the upper wall of said hooded portion carrying a part adapted to engage the upper shoulder of said butt, and a removable gibv insertable into the lower part ofsaid hooded portion from the forward end of said yoke to engage the lower shoulderofv said'butt, thelower wall of said-yoke being adapted' to engage and directly support said butt when the latterisin its normal `forward. position.

3. The combination of a hooded forwardend Iadapted to receive a shouldered draw-bar butt, means carried byv said yoke for engaging one shoulder of said butt, and a removable gib insertable into said yoke from the forward end thereof when said butt is moved rearwardly yfrom its normal position, said gib being adapted to engage the other shoulder of said butt when the latter is in itsforward position, the lower wall of said yoke beingl adapted to engage and support said butt.

4L. A yoke having upper and lower arms and a hooded forward end, integral shoulders at the forward endsof said upper and y the same in said yoke, said locking memberbeing adapted to lie wholly in front of the coupler butt when the same is in its normal position in said yoke. I

5. The combination in a draw-bar yoke,

in a draw-bar yoke,

of upper and lower arms united attheir forward ends by integral side wallsforminga yhood adapted to. receive a .shouldered drawbar butt, means-carried by said `.yoke-"for engagingone shoulder of said butt, and a movable lgib located entirely within said hood between saidside .walls and automatically held in positiorrtol engage the other shoulder of said butt,;saidgib being insertablebodily, from the fo-rwardjendof said hood, .the lower wall ofsaid yoke being adapted yto vengage and support said butt when the latter is in its forward position. f f i f 6. The `combination with -.a -yoke y:having upper andlower'arms anda hooded forward 'dere'd' butt :adapted tobe received within said hooded end, means carried-why `said hooded end to prevent insertion ofsaidbutt end, of a draw-barprovided withl asho-ule means. comprising a movablemember insertable into said hooded. endfromthe forward opening thereof after said butt has been in-. serted into said yoke for retainii'ig said-'butt within said. yoke. l l

7; The combinationA with a yoke', having upper and lower arms anda hooded forward- `end, of a ldraw-bar `having a shouldered butt adapted to be received witliinlsaid' hoodedy end when tlie..forward .end ofthe draw-bar is tilted in a vertical plane,` and means co-v operatingwith the hooded end of said yoke for retaining said butt/thereinA after it'has i been inserted, said -last-named means coni-' prising a .movable-member.;insertable into said hooded end through they forwardy openingv thereof only after said co'uplerbutt has been displaced rearwardly in said lyokex 8. The combination'in ai draw-barfyoke, of ahooded forwardend adaptedrto receiveJ a shouldered draw-bar butt, means carriedby said yoke for engaging one shoulder of said butt, and a removable gib insertable from the forward end of said yoke for engagingthe other shoulder ofrsaid butt, lthe lower wall of said yoke being adapted to enf gage and support said butt whenthel latter is in its normal forward position, said gibk being retained wholly within the walls of said hooded forward end.

9. The combination with a yoke having upper and lower arms and a hooded forward end, of la draw-bar having a shouldered butt 'adapted to be received withinsaid hooded end,inwardly directed flanges carried bythe upper and lower walls kof said hooded end, one of said Hanges being adapted. to engage los one shoulder of said butt, and a removablegib insertable into said yoke from the forvward end thereof and adapted tobe, automatically heldwithin said hooded end to engage the other shoulder ofsaid butt, the lowerV wall of said to engage and support said butt.

yoke being also adapted i y 10. yThe combination with a yoke having upper and lower arms and a hooded forward end., of a draw-bar having a shouldered butt adapted to be received within ksaid hooded end, a Harige carried at the forf i `upper and lower' arms and a hooded forward end, of a draw-bar having a shouldered butt adapted to be received within saidl hooded end, a flange carried at' the forward end of said upper arm to engage the upper shoulder of said butt, lugscarried by the forward end of said lower arm adjacent the side walls of said hooked end,

and a removable block supported by said lower arml and coacting with said lugsv to engage the lower shoulder of said butt, said removable block havingv the lower corners thereof cut away to permit the insertion of said block between the shank of said drawbar and said lugs after said butt has been v'inserted in saidyoke.y

12. The combinationvwith yoke having upper and lowerearms and a hooded forward end, of a draw-bar having a shouldered butt adapted tobe received within sadvhooded end7 a flange carried at the for-l ward 'end of said upper arm to engage the upper shoulder of said butt, lugs carried by the forward end of said lower arm adjacent theside walls of saidhooded end, a removable block supported by said lower arm and' eoacting with said lugs to engage the lower shoulder of said butt, said removable block having the lower corners 'thereof cut away to permitv the insertion ofl said block be? tween the shank of said draw-bar and said lugs after said butt has been inserted in said yoke, and a transverse flange extending upwardly from said lower wall to coact with the lower edge of said block after the latter has been inserted.

13. The combination with a yoke having upper and lower arms united at their forward ends with integral side walls forming ahood, of a draw-bar having'a` shouldered butt and a' shank having an increased verc tical dimension adjacent said butt, a liange formed integrally with the forward endfof said upper wall and extending downwardly therefrom to Acoact with the upper yshoulder of said butt,a transverse flange forniedoin-A tegrally with the forward end of said lower l wall and extending upwardly therefrom, lugs formed integrally with said'lower wall and with saidside walls at the lends of said transverse flange, and extendingfupwardly above said-transverse liange,l said lugs being adapted to permit the insertion of said cou-r` pler butt between them, and a removable block adaptedVt-o be inserted into said hood after said butt has been inserted therein, said block having its lower corners cut away to permit insertion of the end portionsl thereof between. said lugs and said `shank only after said butt has been displaced rearwardlyin said yoke to position a part' of said shank of reduced vertical dimension above said'transverse flange.. i

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my naine. v

' GEORGE C. MURRAY.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,418,450, granted J une 6, 1992.l v

upon the application of George C. Murray, of Chicago, Illinois, for an improvement in Drawbar Yokesj enerror appears in the printed specication requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 24C, claim 11, Jfor the Word hooked read hooded; and that the said Letters Patent' should be read With this correction therein that the same may conform to the lrecord of the ease in the Patent Oflioe.

Signed'and sealed this 11th day of July, A. D., 1922.

[SEAL] v I KARL FENNING,

Act/ng Commissioner of Patents. 

